India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is in America when just President of South Korea Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has paved high-level visit during this Pandemic. Minister will discuss bilateral issues, global and “COVID-related cooperation.” During his stay in New York and Washington from May 24-28, he will meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Few Issues which is going to touch during his visit is First, Mr Jaishankar will meet American vaccine manufacturers in addition to his official meetings, and discussions are expected to focus on commercial procurement of vaccine doses from both the industry including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, as well as gifts of extra doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine that the U.S. government plans to share with other countries amounting up to 80 million doses.
Then the issue of People’s Medicine and waiver of Patent, Copyrights and flow of raw materials until the pandemic is wiped for the Least Developed Countries or poor and developing countries of the world are touched. The LDC Countries or Poor Countries have not even crossed even ½ per cent of vaccine to its citizens while the developed world has reached 40% or more. India and South Africa with Fifty are more countries are fighting for peoples medicine which Foreign Minister is going to look at.
Secondly India still wants the U.S. to reconsider its export ban under the Defence Production Act (DPA) for vaccine ingredients, which Indian manufacturers need to ramp up production in the next few months. The Minister is expected to meet with business representatives at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) during the visit.
Thirdly in India, the Opposition Regional Government proactively issued global tenders to procure medicines. They did not have any national perspective on buying except their own regional interest. They have been successful to divide on the basis of Region, Language, Culture and what not? Personally, I feel none of the Regional Opposition Chief Ministers met or discussed with Foreign Minister about Vaccine when he was going to the US. Ultimately when the world is facing a severe shortage of Vaccines. U.S. manufacturers are keen to discuss a more centralised procurement for American vaccines, rather than the current State by State mechanism. They have denied States to sell their Vaccine. Instead, they are requesting India to grant Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the U.S. vaccines soon. India is also striving since the peak of the pandemic.
Fourthly the Minister is expected to make a stop at the United Nations, his first visit since India assumed its two-year term at the Security Council this January, before travelling to Washington. He would meet UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres and exchange views on a range of issues, COVID-19 pandemic, the Afghanistan talks process, where India plays a role as Chair of Taliban Sanctions Committee at the UNSC, the recent violence between Israel and Palestine, and U.N. reforms.
Fifthly, his visit is very important because it is the New Administration with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who is having her roots in India heading the world as second important person. He is expected to meet several senior administration officials Mr. Jaishankar had already met Mr. Blinken earlier this month during a visit to London to attend the G-7 ministerial meeting.
Sixthly, during his visit India’s Foreign Minister has or may have to include from Traditional Issue of Bilateral to Regional and Global to 6G Research Cooperation, Joint production of Battery for US Companies in India and vice versa, Semi-Conductor Supply Chain and manufacturing of it with Technology and Financial support in India, China control of Mineral Resources manganese to Lithium: Covid 19 Raw Materials, Patent Waiver for Small Medium Poor Less Developed Countries will be taken or noted.
Seventhly, India US relations have undergone a fundamental transformation. After the new administration came Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has visited White House, South Korea President Moon Jaein also visited and took commitment for a share in 80 Million Dose of Vaccine for its soliders workding with US Army. In India people like to see President Joe Biden and PM Narendra Modi in White House or in Delhi soon. Their meeting personally is very important for Bilateral, Regional and Global issues touching today. So this Foreign Minister visit is very important to build strong bridge for India US Relations. Dr Jaishankar who is a career diplomat will be successful to bridge the gaps for the well being of not only India but also of the world. When people talk of inwardness and I India is moving to not only us but also ours as we have to save the “Succeeding Generation from Biological leaks and war.” Due to it the meeting of India and US is very important and also justice should be brought on the Truth of Who spread the Covid-19 Virus?
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